Sweet Pepper
Sweet Pepper Starting the list with a common and non-spicy pepper, the pepper is an awesome addition to many dishes because of its texture and mild flavor. With a zero on the Scoville scale, these peppers have no heat and yet are the base for one of the most well-known seasonings: paprika.
Also known as the bell pepper, sweet peppers are a fantastic treat that can be cooked into things or even prepared and enjoyed raw with the right dips.
Poblano Pepper
The poblano pepper, also known as the ancho pepper, is a fantastic treat found in many Mexican dishes. Most well known for making chiles rellenos, these peppers are barely spicy and are great for everything from sauces to salsas.
To prepare these and get the most yield of their meat without their rough skin, you should blacken them over a fire or on a grill until they form a good black skin, and then immediately store them in tightly wrapped tinfoil for around ten minutes. Afterward, rinse off the scorched skin with running water, and you can enjoy the soft and delicious poblano meat.
Anaheim Pepper
These peppers are extremely versatile, and like most, go from bright green to a deep red.
Also known as chile Colorado or California red chile, anaheims are fantastic for everything from salsas to pepper jelly dip. Although they’re mild in flavor, they’re very tasty and possibly one of the most underutilized peppers on this list.
Habanero Pepper
The spiciest pepper on this list, habaneros, is small but packs a big punch! These little bulb-shaped peppers offer a fruity sweet yet intensely spicy flavor.
Grown on the Yucatan Peninsula and in the Caribbean, they’ve become internationally famous in the last thirty years and are prevalent in everything from hot sauces to candies. So if you love heat and don’t want a ton of pepper texture in your dishes, this is a fantastic place to start.
Cayenne Pepper
The cayenne pepper is also known as the finger chile and the bird pepper. Most familiar to people in its dried and ground form, this flavor is the main component that makes chili and most Tex-Mex food taste as iconic as it does.
Although they’re small, they pack a punch and are easy to add in large amounts to any recipes that you want to make exciting and hot. These are fantastic on everything from steak to spicy pasta salads, so don’t be afraid to give them a try!
Jalapeno Pepper
Everyone has had jalapeno at least once in their life. The most popular spicy pepper on this list, jalapenos, is also known as chipotles when smoked and dried. Fantastic served in any way, from pickling to roasting, you won’t be able to ignore the fun fruity heat they can give a dish while also adding incredible texture and flavor.
There’s a reason these are the most well-known spicy peppers, so don’t be afraid to give these a try if you’re nervous about putting heat into your diet.
Peppers are a fantastic addition to any dish, so try cooking with some of these soon!
